Coin-operated liquid delivery machine



Aug. 25, 1959 I E, S'TARK 2,901,077

COIN-OPERATED LIQUID DELIVERY MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l A I I N g 8 H d 7 g "1 :8 m 5% 9?. m N Llr INVENTOR. Eduard Stark 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 22, 1956 INVENTOR. Eduard Stark Aug. 25, 1959 STARK 2,901,077

COIN-OPERATED LIQUID DELIVERY MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN I EN TOR. Eduard Stark Aug. 25, 1959 E. STARK 2,901,077

COIN-OPERATED LIQUID DELIVERY MACHINE Filed Au 22, 1956 4' Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. Eduard Stark WMZA/ United States Patent The present invention concerns. a coin-operated liquid delivery machine and. more particularly relates. to a coin slot machine for delivering varying quantities of -liquid, particularly petrol, corresponding to givencoin values, irom a tank installation having a supply pump and a flow meter, the delivery of the liquid being initiated by an inserted coin and said delivery of liquid being interrupted 1 as soon as a quantity of liquid corresponding in value to the inserted coin, has passed through the flow meter. The general construction of the coin-operated liquid delivery machine is of thetype shown for instance in U.S. Patent No.'2,674,36l, having a liquid reservoir 14, a supply on dispensing pump 20, a flow meter 26 and counters 52, 54a indicating the amount and price respectively of liquid having been dispensed.

Such coin slot machines are known, but they have many different and complicated measuring devices, adjustment being obtained in many cases to-the value of the coin in a pre-selecting mechanism, said adjustment then being nullified during delivery of the liquid.

It is an object of the present invention toprovide a slot machine' adapted for attachment to, for example, known existing, non-automatic, liquid supply points to permit simple measurement of a quantity of liquid to be delivered, without a pro-selector mechanism. According to the present-invention control members, equal in numher to the several denominations of coins'to be used, are provided, which members are driven by a meter operated by a flow meter and graduated in coinage values, feelers being provided which, according 'to'the type of coin inserted, co-operate with the control member associated with that type of coin and effect interruptionof the :de-

livery of the liquid when a determined amounthas been delivered.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the electrical circuit diagram of an automatic slot machine;

Fig. 2 is asection, taken along the line II--II of Fig. 3, ofa switch mechanism which is actuated by coins, a coin passage being'shown'for clarity partly in section;

Fig.3 is a front elevation of the switch mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2, with'the switches removed and the coin passages partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a switch mechanism actuated by a flow meter;

Fig. 5 is'a section taken along the line VV' of Fig.-4;

Fig. 6 is a verticalzsection, taken along the line. VI-'VI of Fig.- 7, of a coin feed mechanism;

Fig.7 shows the coin .feed mechanism in plan, the coin passages. being shown in section along the -line VII-VII 1 Fig. 8 shows a front elevation of a change-over mechanism;

Fig.- 9 is-a side elevation of Figw8 viewed from the left; and

'controllinga supply pump motor 34.

ice

Fig. 10 is a perspective view, partially in section and on an enlarged scale, illustrating a detail of the-machine.

The slot machine illustrated has three adjacent coin feeds 1, only one of which is shown in the diagramin Fig. 1. These coin feeds are constructed, in theexample shown, for accommodating one-franc, two-franc and fivefranc coins and they are shown in greater detail in Figs. 6 and 7. The coins drop into passages. 2, 3 and 4according to their value. The inletsof all the coin passages 2,3 and 4 are controlled by slides 5, pivotally attached by pins 6 to a plate 7 and are all connected at their lower ends to a connecting rod 9. A draw spring anchoredto the plate 7 and attached to the center slide 5 tends to swing the slides 5 over the passages,in which position they partly block said passages so that norother-- coin can be inserted. In its excited condition, an electromagnet 10 acts by way of its armature 11, in the direction of the arrow, on a pin 12 mounted on the center slide 5, and thereby swings the slides 5 out of the coin pas.- sages, so that coins-may be inserted. In Fig. 1 this operation is shown diagrammatically by the armature 11 itself being withdrawn out of the passagewhen the magnet 10 is excited. In'the initial condition of the slot machine, the magnet 10 is excited by a switch 13 and a mercury switch 14 and-thereby keeps the passages 2, 3 and f4 open. When a coin is inserted it falls through a coin checker (not'shown) into a'switch mechanism, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, and drops ontoa slide 15 which temporarily prevents it from falling further. The slide 15 is kept in a projected position by anelectromagnet 16 when the latter is excited, but is withdrawn from the passage by a spring and releases the coin when the electro-magnet 16 is no longer excited.

The switch mechanism is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each slide 15 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 is actually in the shape of a closing cam which is capable ofprojecting into the coin passages 2,3 or 4 and is mounted fixedly on a common shaft 17. A draw spring 19, tending to pivot the closing cams 15 out of the coin passagesanticlockwise (as viewed in Fig. 2), engages an arm 18 .attached to the shaft 17. The electro-magnet 16 in its excited conditionacts with its. armature 20 on another arm 21 also located on the shaft 17,and swings the closing cams 15 into the coin passages against :the action of the spring 19 so that the coins cannot fall through. The coins which are thus retained act on control levers 22 which project through slots into the coin passages, each co-operating with a switch 23,. 24 or 25.1.

On the shaft17 wire springs 27 are mounted by means of hubs 26.. The freeends of these springs engage in slots 28 in tire-coin passages: 2, 3 and 4, and pull the coin out of thepassage when the shaft 17 is turned anti-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2. This prevents coins being retained in the passages 2, 3 or 4, by the pressure of the control levers 22, when the closing cams 15 are swung outof the passages;

The .electro-magnet 16 is connected in parallel with the electromagnet 10 so that both are always excited at thesame time (see Fig. 1).

The switches 23, 24 and 25, which can be closed respectivelyby a coin inserted in one of the passages, are connected in series with electro-magnets 29, 30 and 31 respectively, these series circuits being connected "in parallel with an electro-magnet 32 actuatinga switch 33 Included in the circuit of the supply pump motor is a switch 36, which is in series with switch 33 and is controlled by the hook 36'of the delivery hose and closes when the hose is removed from the hook. The delivery hose may be a petrol supply hose.

Theele'ctr'o-magnets 29, 30 and 31 act,'-as= showndiagrammatically in Fig. 1, on feeler pins 37, 38 and 39 cooperating respectively with control cam discs 40, 41 and 42 jointly located on a shaft 43. This part of the slot machine is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The magnets 29, 30 and 31 act with their armatures 44 in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 5) on crank levers 45 which are riveted on one side to hubs 47 located loosely on shaft 46. The hubs 47 are axially secured by means of distance tubes, not described in greater detail. On the other side of the hubs 47 control levers 48 are riveted, these levers acting ing from one end of the shaft 46 engages. The feeler pins 37, 38 and 39 are pressed on the cam discs 40, 41 and '42 when the appropriate electro-magnets are excited.

These cam discs 40, 41 and 42 are fixed to the common shaft 43. On this shaft 43 is located a gear wheel 52 which is driven in the ratio 1:1 by a gear wheel 53 of the franc decimals of a meter counter of well known type, for instance as shown at 5412 in Fig. 1 of the above mentioned U.S. Patent specification No. 2,674,361 adapted to indicate the amount of money. The gear wheels 52 and 53 therefore execute a complete rotation from a rest position when the wheel 53 is driven by the flow meter of known type, for instance as shown at 26 of Fig. 1 of the above mentioned U.S. patent specification No. 2,674,361 controlling the supply of petrol, by means of a reduction gearing for instance of the type shown at 60 in Fig. 1 of the above mentioned U.S. patent specification No. 2,674,361 adjusted according to the price of the petrol, while petrol to the value of francs is delivered. The cam discs 40, 41 and 42 may for instance rotate anti-clockwise (as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5) through an angle of about 36 for a quantity of petrol flowing through the machine to the value of onefranc. The discs 40, 41 and 42 have cam surfaces which include shoulders 54 over which the corresponding feeler pins 37, 3S and 39 respectively can penetrate in a manner explained later on when the appropriate cam disc has turned from the starting position through an angle of 36, 72 or 180, during which movement petrol flows through the flow meter to the value of 1, 2 or 5 francs respectively.

The shaft 43 is provided with a return cam disc 55 -which acts on a hub 58 fixed to shaft 46 by means of a suitable feeler 56 and a lever arm 57.

Located at one end of shaft 46 is a crank arm 59 which acts by means of a control rod 6t) on an arm 61 of the mercury switch 14 mounted in an explosion-proof housing 62.

The slot machine has a full-wave rectifier 64, fed by a transformer 63, for supplying a feed for the various electro-magnets (Fig. 1).

As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the two switches 13 and 33 are actuated by springs 65, which are connected together by means of a flat rod 66. A rod 67 actuated by a safety lock 68 operates on the fiat bar 66 in such a way that the springs 65 can be continuously raised by the bar 66 so that the switch 13 is continuously interrupted, but the switch 33 continuously closed.

The parts of the automatic slot machine not having sealed gas-tight switches, that is to say, all parts except the switch mechanism having the mercury switch 14, and attached to the counting mechanism, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are mounted in a separate housing outside in order to prevent explosion. The separate housing may be of the type shown for instance in Fig. 1 of U.S. patent specification No. 2,573,112.

A quantity of petrol corresponding to the value of a given coin, may be delivered in the following manner by means of the coin slot machine illustrated.

In the starting condition of the coin slot machine, as

shown a coin such as a onefranc, two-franc or five-franc coin separator until it is retained by the appropriate closing cam 15 and is thereby prevented from falling further. The coin thereby presses on the appropriate control lever 22 and closes the appropriate switch 23, 24 or 25. This closes a circuit and places the coil of electro-magnet 29, 30 or 31 in series with the coil of electro-magnet 32 across the supply. The motor switch 33 is thereby closed and, after the petrol hose has been removed from the hook 35, switch 36 closes and the motor 34 of the supply pump begins to run. The supply pump may be of any desired type and may be placed in the liquid delivery apparatus as illustrated at 20 in Fig. 1 of the above mentioned U.S. patent specification No. 2,674,361. If the valve provided on the pouring member of the petrol hose is opened, the petrol flows out under pressure, the flow meter begins to run and drives the gear wheel 53 by means of a nonillustrated known reduction gearing and, therefore, the gear wheel 52, at such a speed that they each rotate through 36, while petrol to the value of 1 franc is delivered. According to whether the coin inserted is one, two or five-francs in value, the electro-magnct 29, 30 or 31 will be excited and the appropriate feeler pin 37, 38 or 39 pressed against the appropriate cam disc 40, 41 or 42 respectively. As soon as the feeler pin which is now under pressure penetrates over the shoulder 54 of the appropriate cam disc, the lever 48 is turned clockwise (Fig. 5) and the appropriate hub 47 takes the shaft 46 along with it in the appropriate direction and can then freely rotate in the other hubs 47 due to the slot 49. This rotation of the shaft 46 tips the mercury switch 14 through the link system 59, 60, 61, so that the circuit of the two electro-magnets 10 and 16 is interrupted. Thus the coin feeds 1 are blocked by the slides 5 so that for the time being no further coins can be introduced. Simultaneously the closing cams 15 are swung out of the coin passages and release the coin which is in one of the passages, the coin being removed from the passage by the appropriate spring 27, unless it falls out under its own weight. As soon as the coin is released in this manner, the switch 23, 24 or 25 which has hitherto been kept closed thereby, is opened and with it the circuit of the electromagnet 32 is interrupted so that the supply pump motor 34 is stopped. By this means the fiow of petrol is also interrupted at the moment when the delivered quantity is equal in value to the inserted coin. In order to take into consideration a certain degree of inertia of the parts concerned, particularly of the electro-magnets and the supply pump, the cam discs 40, 41 and 42 may be so proportioned that the feeler pin 37, 38 or 39 can penetrate somewhat before the termination of the above-mentioned theoretical angle of rotation.

As explained above only the one of the feelers 37 to 39 pressed against its associated cam disc 40, 41 or 42 by its associated electromagnet is able to penetrate over the shoulder 54 of the appropriate cam disc. However, it is impossible for any of these feelers to penetrate over the shoulder 54 when only biased by gravity forces, due to the pressure fitting of the feelers in an unnumbered cross-hatched part shown in Fig. 5 adjacent armature 44. Therefore, when a two franc coin has been inserted the electro-m-agnet 30 is excited thereby pressing the feeler 38 against cam disc 41. On rotation of the cam shaft 43 the unloaded feeler 37 will first reach the shoulder 54 of its associated cam disc 40 but is not able to penetrate over this shoulder as explained above. Only after further rotation of the cam discs by an angle of 36 the feeler 38 sufiiciently biased by the excited electromagnet 30 will penetrate over the shoulder 54 of cam disc 41 thereby stopping the liquid delivery mechanism as explained hereinbefore. Similarly, when a five-franc coin has been inserted, feeler 39 is biased by the excited electro-magnet 31. On rotation of the cam discs 40 to 42 during liquid delivery the unloaded feelers 37 and 38 will not be able to penetrate over the shoulders 54 of cam discs 40 and 41 respectively and only the feeler 39 which is sufiiciently loaded by the excited electro-magnet 31 will r J penetrate over the shoulder of cam disc 42 thereby unabling the mechanism when liquid for five francs has been delivered. 'In any case the shaft 46 and the feelers 37 to 39 associated therewith are returned to their'initial position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 when, at the end of a delivery cycle, the cam shaft 43 is rotated to its initial or zero position in anticlockwise direction as indicated by an arrow in Fig. 5. This resetting motion is transrnitted from the cam disc 55 through feeler 56-and lever 57 which is rigidly attached to shaft 46 via hub 58.

In the rest position of the coin slot machine which is now obtained, all the circuits are disconnected from the supply, and the coin feed is blocked, so that nofurther coins can be inserted before the slot machine is returned again to the starting position shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose the meter counter is turned forwards into the zero position by means of a non-illustrated crank. The crank may for instance be of the type shown at 64 in Fig. 1 of the above mentioned US. patent specification No. 2,674,361. At the same time the feeler pin '56, which has already left the shoulder 55 of the cam disc 55 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, when one of the remaining feeler pins 37, 38 and 39 penetrates, is returned to the starting position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, whereby the shaft 46 is also returned to the starting position and the mercury switch 14 operates to complete its circuit. The coin feeds are opened and the closing cams swung into the passages, so that a coin can be inserted again according to the preceding description and the appropriate quantity of petrol extracted.

By changing over by means of the lock 68, the automatic mechanism can be neutralised as follows when the machine is being occasionally attended to, such as during the day. By turning the lock the switch 33 is permanently operated and the switch 13 permanently cut out.- Due to this cutting out of the switch 13, the coils and 16 become permanently dead, so that no coins can be inserted. Owing to the permanent operation of the switch 33, the circuit-of the supply pump motor is controlled only by the hook switch 36, so that removal of the petrol hose is suflicient for the extraction of petrol.

Broadly, this invention comprises cam means, exemplified by cam shaft 43 of the embodiment shown in the drawing, such cam means being in operative connection with a flow meter of the machine, a number of cam elements attached to the cam means and exemplified by cam discs 40 to 42 in the embodiment shown in the drawing, each of the cam elements being associated with a denomination of coins it is possible to insert into the machine, individual control elements exemplified by feelers 37 to 39, associated with each coin denomination and operatively associated with each of the said cam elements, each of the said control elements having a sensitive and non-sensitive condition, the feelers of the embodiment being in their sensitive condition when biased by the electro-magnet associated therewith, means exemplified by switches 23 to 25 and solenoids 29 to 31, associated with each of the said control elements and operable on insertion of a coin of the associated denomination for bringing the control element associated with this denomination into its sensitive condition, an operative and an inoperative position for the control elements, such positions being exemplified by the upper rest position and lower operating position of feelers 37 to 39, the said control elements exemplified by feelers 37 to 39 being adapted to be brought into their operative position when the cam means is displaced from its initial position during liquid delivery, energizing means for the supply pump operative on insertion of any coin, such energizing means being exemplified by switches 23 to 25 and relay 32 in the embodiment, and deenergizing means for the supply pump, operative when one of the said control elements is brought from its inoperative position to its operative position while in its sensitive condition, for deenergizing the said supply pump, such deenergizing means 6? being exemplified by switch 14, solenoid 16 and slides 15 of the embodiment.

There are of course numerous other possibilities'for controlling the coin slot machine, apart from the one described herein. For example, the coinneed not be retained in the passage but could merely operate a selfholding circuit-as it falls through, said self-holding circuit switching on the supply pump motor in the closed condition and being interrupted by contacts controlled by the cam disc 40, 41 or 42 as soon as one of the feelers 37 38 or 39 penetrates over the shoulder 54 of the appropriate cam disc. As a rest contact, the mercury switch 14 could advantageously be used. With such a construction, the complete switch mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3 may be omitted.

A rest contact, which is opened when the electro magnet 32 is excited, may be inserted into the lead feeding electro-magnet 10. By this means the coin feeds 1 are closed immediately after the insertion of a coin, so that no further coin can be inserted.

Furthennore, the switches. 24 and 23 need not be fed directly from a common bar, but may be connected by means of rest contacts on switches 25 or 24. By this means, when several different coins are simultaneously inserted, only the electro-magnet 31 or 30, which is associated with the inserted coin of highest denomination, is excited, i.e. electro magnet 31 if, inter alia, a five franc piece is inserted. On the other hand, the magnet 31 would be excited if a two-franc piece were inserted amongst others, as the coin of highest denomination. In this manner, the purchaser receives at least a quantity of petrol corresponding to the coin of highest denomination whereas with the control operation shown, he would receive only a quantity of petrol corresponding to the coin of smallest denomination which was inserted at the same time.

Owing to irregularities in the release of coins by the closing cams 15, inaccuracies may result in the proportioning of the quantities of liquid to be delivered. In order to avoid. this, the arrangement may be so made that all the feeler pins 37, 38 and 39 act on a common switch similar to switch 14, which, for example, may be provided instead of the relay switch 33 and which, in the closed condition, makes it possible to extract liquid. Such a switch would be opened by each feeler as soon as the cam disc 40, 41 or 42 associated with the feeler has reached the rotary position corresponding to the value of the inserted coin.

I claim:

1. A coin slot machine for the delivery of varying quantities of liquid, particularly petrol, corresponding to given coin values, comprising a liquid reservoir, a supply pump, a flow meter and delivery means for the liquid, a flow line for the said liquid being formed from the said liquid reservoir through the said supply pump, the said flow meter and the said delivery means, a cam shaft in operative connection with the said flow meter, a number of cam discs fixedly attached to the cam shaft each of the said cam discs being associated with a denomination of coins it is possible to insert into the machine, a feeler for each of the said cam disc, and means associated with each feeler for continuously urging it into operative contact with its associated cam disc when a coin of the associated denomination has been inserted, a zero or initial position for the said flow meter the said cam shaft and the said cam discs for which all the feelers are supported by the cam disc in an inoperative position and an offset on each of the said cam discs allowing displacement of the associated feeler from the said inoperative position to an operative position when turned below the feeler, energizing means for the said supply pump operative on insertion of a coin and deenergizing means for the said supply pump, a one way coupling between each of the said feelers and the said deenergizing means, operative when one of the said feelers is displaced from its inoperative position to its operative position for deenergizing the said supply pump.

2. A coin slot machine for the delivery of varying quantities of liquid, particularly petrol, corresponding to given coin values, comprising a liquid reservoir, a supply pump, a flow meter and delivery means for the liquid, a flow line for the said liquid from the said liquid reservoir through the said supply pump, the said flow meter and the said delivery means, a cam shaft in operative connection with the said flow meter, a cam disc associated with each denomination of coins it is possible to insert into the machine fixedly attached to the said cam shaft, individual feeler means operatively associated with each of the said cam discs, individual coin controlled means for each of the said feeler means, a control position for each coin inserted and supporting means having an operative position for supporting inserted coins in their control position and an inoperative position for releasing the coins from their control position, each feeler means being continuously held by the said coin controlled means in operative contact with its associated cam disc as long as a coin is held in the said control position, energizing means for the said supply pump operative when a coin is in its said control position and an operative connection between any of the said feeler means and the said coin supporting means for shifting the said supporting means to their inoperative position when a quantity of liquid corresponding to the value of the inserted coin has been delivered, thereby releasing the coin from its control position and deenergizing the said supply pump.

3. A coin slot machine according to claim 2, comprising an electric energizing circuit for the said supply pump and an electric actuating circuit for each of the said feeler means, the said electric energizing circuit being connected in series with each of the said electric actuating circuits for the feeler means.

4. A coin slot machine according to claim 3, comprising an electric switch in each of the said coin controlled means, the said electric switch being closed whenever a coin is in its said control position, an electromagnet for each of the said feeler means urging the associated feeler means against its cam disc when energized, and an electric power supply, one of the said switches, one of the said electromagnets and the said energizing circuit for the supply motor being connected in series with the said electric power supply Whenever a coin is in its said control position.

5. A coin slot machine for the delivery of varying quantities of liquid, particularly petrol, corresponding to given coin values, comprising a liquid reservoir, a supply pump, a flow meter and delivery means for the liquid, a flow line for the said liquid from the said liquid reservoir through the said supply pump, the said flow meter and the said delivery means, a cam shaft in operative connection with the said flow meter, a cam disc associated with each denomination of coins it is possible to insert into the machine fixedly attached to the said cam shaft, individual feeler means operatively associated with each of the said cam discs, individual coin controlled means for each of the said feeler means, a control position for each coin inserted and supporting means operable for supporting inserted coins in the said control position, each feeler means being continuously held by the said coin controlled means in contact with its associated cam disc as long as a coin is held in the said control position by the said supporting means, energizing means for the said supply pump operative on insertion of a coin and deenergizing means for the said supply pump controllable by any of the said feeler means.

6. A coin slot machine for the delivery of varying quantities of liquid, particularly petrol, corresponding to given coin values, comprising a liquid reservoir, a supply pump, a flow meter and delivery means for the liquid, a flow line for the said liquid being formed from the said liquid reservoir through the said supply pump the said flow meter and the said delivery means, a cam means in operative connection with the said flow meter, at number of cam elements attached to the said cam means, each of the said cam elements being associated with a denomination of coins it is possible to insert into the machine, individual control elements associated with each coin denomination and operatively associated with each of the said cam elements, each of the said control elements having a sensitive and a non-sensitive condition, means associated with each of the said control elements and operable on insertion of a coin of the associated denomination for bringing the control element associated with this denomination into its said sensitive condition, an operative and an inoperative position for the said control elements, a zero or initial position for the said flow meter the said cam means and the said cam elements, for which zero position the said control elements are in their inoperative position, but the said control elements being adapted to be brought into their operative position when the said cam means is displaced from its said initial position during liquid delivery, energizing means for the said supply pump operative on insertion of any coin, and deenergizing means for the said supply pump, operative when one of the said control elements is brought from its inoperative position to its operative position while in its sensitive condition, for deenergizing the said supply pump.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,447 Rockwell May 21, 1929 2,573,112 Schneckenburger Oct. 30, 1951 2,610,722 West Sept. 16, 1952 2,674,361 Moore Apr. 6, 1954 

